Supply: For organizations that do have the resources, there can still be challenges getting access to specialized equipment, which is high in demand. If your office can’t obtain the technology it needs for reopening, that can hold up your plan.
Logistics: The pandemic-era security needs of a business are different that those required pre-pandemic, and that may require some additional strategy. For example, setting up a thermal scanning station means that external doors that were once accessible need to be closed off to entry (but still allowing exit in case of a fire or other emergency).
Technical considerations: Some solutions that might prove valuable for small businesses, such as contact tracing, aren’t easy to implement. They may require new employee policies, such as limits to how many people can be in a room simultaneously. Giving employees radio frequency identification tags to track such behavior means a new piece of gear workers are responsible for, and while wireless networking-based solutions exist, they can be complicated to implement and may require additional investment.
Collaboration and Planning Lead to Successful Reopening
It may not be possible for your organization to implement all of these tools right away, but getting involved in the conversation early can help power a successful rollout that makes employees and the business feel protected. While delays in reopening may feel frustrating, this also allows for extra planning time, which could go a long way toward ensuring everything is on the right track.
Ultimately, the way to make this work comes down to two things: working as tightly as possible and collaborating with stakeholders in other departments that are facing similar challenges. Reopening may not be as easy as flipping a switch, but office comebacks can be done well — with the right planning.
This article is part of BizTech's AgilITy blog series. Please join the discussion on Twitter by using the #SmallBizIT hashtag.